SOAFT - Testimonial

SOAFT:System for Online Application for Foreign Travel is a web application developed for processing application for foreign travel of faculties under different institutes of Higher Education Department, Government of Kerala.

TESTIMONIALS

At the outset, it gives me immense pleasure to write this note to thank you for my recent experience with SOAFT.

I received Govt. sanction for my visits to Czech Republic and Portugal to attend conferences. The entire process took nearly one month for each application. Also the online process of application is very simple and user friendly. I appreciate higher education department for this new initiative.

Dr. V. B. Kiran KumarAssistant Professor,Department of MathematicsCochin University of Science And Technology

I express my deep sense of gratitude for the speedy processing of SOAFT software system. I also appreciate the initiative by the Department of Higher Education, Government of Kerala in introducing such a system. The new online system is very much useful and it ensures quick processing. I express my sincere thanks to The Principal Secretary, Nodal officer, Technical officer of SOAFT software, B section of Higher Education, The Government machinery and the whole team for implementing this system.

The new online system SOAFT is very much useful and it ensures speedy processing . Thanks to higher Education department for this attempt. I express sincere thanks to the team and appreciate their service.

Prof. C Naseema

Professor of Education

University of Calicut

I express my sincere gratitude for launching 'SOAFT '(System for Online Application for Foreign Travel) initiative by the Department of Higher Education, Government of Kerala. I have uploaded my application on 11.03.2019 and I received the approval letter today (27.03.2019). The entire application processing completed within 17 days. Thanks to the Minister of Higher Education, Principal Secretary and the team of Higher Education Department for this very useful initiative. Hope we will have more such online platforms available in future as part of e- governance initiatives in higher education.

Dr. Zubair. MAssistant ProfessorCalicut University

I must admit that I was a bit sceptic when I tried to apply for the government permission for my recent foreign trip through the SOAFT. I could not believe my eyes to see the entire process from application to the issue of government order took only seven days, not even seven working days!

I am sure that the new efforts are part of the initiatives to make the government system more transparent, effective and timely. This would help the academic sector immensely as at present a lot of time and energy are spent in the administrative and processing delays. I am also glad to see the mutual respect and appreciation towards the academic community from the higher education department. I hope the present system would evolve into an integrated e-governance system that would also help academic institutions to manage the academic management along with the administrative functions.

I place on record my gratitude to the entire team for their relentless efforts in simplifying the processes.

At the outset, it gives me immense pleasure to write this note to thank you for my recent experience with SOAFT. As I am the first person on deputation (under QIP) to apply through SOAFT, there were few minor hiccups initially, but the team who were anchoring this system was so prompt and supportive in bringing out the necessary modifications/additions quickly. I really appreciate the Higher Education Department for such a splendid initiative, and the SOAFT team for developing this simple (user-friendly), quick and transparent system with regular SMS updates.

What really astonished me is the enormous speed of processing. I received the G.O on the fourth day of my online submission. I feel like this is analogous to a sudden transition from the stage/speed of a normal train to that of a bullet train. With no doubt, I can say that SOAFT has tremendously improved the processing time in addition to the ease of usage and transparency. I believe the team has been conscientious to develop such a brilliant system in a short span of time. My heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to the entire team. I trust that these changes are going to streamline the system, enable everyone to work at a higher order of efficiency and effectiveness.

Looking forward to have similar online platforms for processing CAS, Promotions, and Transfers to build speed, accuracy, and transparency to the system.

I place on record my best wishes to the entire team for their relentless efforts in simplifying the process which is worth pursuing in the days to come.

System For Online Application For Foreign Travel (SOAFT), developed by Higher Education Department, Govt. of Kerala is really a boon to Academics, who wish to travel abroad. I was amazed to get a call from the SOAFT team member, just half an hour after I submitted my application. The officer who called me was very cordial and answered my queries with patience. The SOAFT team was in touch with me through SMS to inform me about the status of my application. It was really a surprise for me when a member of the team called me to say that my application was approved. I got the approval for my foreign travel within a short span of 6 days...just 6 days...Kudos to Govt. of Kerala, for such a noval idea. It is testimonial to the determination of Higher Education Department to reap the benefits of e-governance. A hassle free system is in place to obtain clearance from Govt. of Kerala for the foreign travel of Academics. This will persuade more number of Academics from Kerala to participate in International conferences / workshops / Exhibitions organised in foreign countries, as SOAFT is capable of processing the application for foreign travel in a time bound manner. I will surely recommend my colleagues and friends to make use of SOAFT. Special thanks and congratulations to the members of SOAFT team and Higher Education Department for such an initiative.

Thanks to e-governance, thanks to Government of Kerala and special thanks to the entire team of Higher Education Department for having materialized a long cherished demand of Academicians in our state through the implementation of SOAFT. With minimum time ( in my case within 20 days) and with a single document ( NOC from employer), a college/university teacher is able to get clearance from Government of Kerala for foreign travel related to academic purpose. This is really a great initiative of Government of Kerala implemented through the Higher Education Department. Foreign Collaboration and interaction with foreign faculty will go a long way in the pursuit of academic excellence. Ofcourse SOAFT is a right step which will motivate College and University teachers for having more interaction with foreign faculty. Above all, this SOAFT has proved that for increasing efficiency in government service, no need of privatization, it is possible through digitalization and committed employees. Once again thanks to the whole team of Higher Education Department for their whole hearted efforts in this direction.

Dr. G.Raju Professor, Head and Dean of Commerce University of Kerala

With regards to the new online system "SOAFT"I would like to say that it is a wonderful and revolutionary change in getting approval for foreign visit of faculty members in the state. The much complicated and time consuming system has drastically changed with the introduction of the new system based on digital technology. As one of the first 3 persons gets the benefit of it , I express my thanks to Principal Secretary and the team for implementing this system. Hats off to the higher education department

Dr. K GIRISH KUMARProf & Head, CUSAT, Kochi

This is to express my sincere gratitude for launching 'SOAFT' , the online platform for getting approval for Academics for their journey abroad. On 6th January, I have uploaded all the documents and yesterday I received the order. SOAFT is simple and one just need to upload the NOC and only essential supporting documents. Thanks to the Higher Education Department for this very useful initiative. Hope we will have more such online platforms available in future as part of e- governance initiatives in higher education.

Dr.SABU ABDULHAMEEDAssociate Professor Kannur University

Thanks to the Higher Education Department for the efforts to streamline the entire application process related to foreign travel. SOAFT (System for Online Application for Foreign Travel) is a great initiative from the Department of Higher Education, Government of Kerala. I am very much happy and proud to be the first applicant who applied through SOAFT. I have submitted my application on 1st-January-2019 around 12:40 pm, within one hour, I received a call from the Department of Higher Education official confirming the receipt of my application. I also received the messages regarding my application status through my mobile number. On 23rd-January-2019, I received the approval letter for my foreign travel. The entire application process completed within 23 days. I informed this news to my colleagues also. All of them appreciated the Department of Higher Education for introducing SOAFT. I hope, SOAFT will boost the number of participants from Kerala, in different international conferences/workshops/symposia which will take place abroad. Also will leads to an increase in the number of fruitful foreign collaborations with our Universities. I want to express my thanks to the team on behalf of the entire scientific community for this great initiative.